Abstract
Background: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) often have irritating persistent dry cough. Possible correlations between dry cough and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) remain unclear.Methods: 44 patients with IPF and 30 healthy individuals underwent 24 h laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring. Ryan index score was calculated. Patients’ demographic and clinical data were collected.Results: 44 patients with IPF and 30 healthy individuals were included. The proportions of men and smokers were significantly higher in IPF group than control group (All p < 0.01). The average laryngopharyngeal pH value for 24 h was similar in the IPF (7.11 ± 0.08) group and control group (7.09 ± 0.06). According to the percentage duration of pH < 6.5, pH6.5–7.5, and pH > 7.5 in the overall measure duration, the patients were classified into three pH groups. In entire pH monitoring duration, the proportion of pH > 7.5 group in IPF patients was higher than control group; at upright position, the proportion of pH > 7.5 group in IPF patients was higher than control group; at supine position, the proportion of pH < 6.5 group in IPF patients was higher than control group (All p < 0.01). Seven patients had Ryan index score>9.41 at upright position. All patients had Ryan index score<6.79 at supine position. Four patients showed significantly higher and one patient had significantly lower average pH at coughing than the overall average pH (All p < 0.05).Conclusions: Patients with IPF may have LPR. Basic and acidic LPR may likely occur at upright and supine position, respectively. Ryan index may not accurately reflect LPR in patients with IPF.
Highlights
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) refer to a group of lung diseases characterized in alveolar inflammation and interstitial fibrotic lesions (Travis et al, 2013)
A total of 44 patients with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were included in the study
The average laryngopharyngeal pH value for 24 h was similar in the IPF (7.11 ± 0.08) group and control group (7.09 ± 0.06) (Figure 2)
Summary
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) refer to a group of lung diseases characterized in alveolar inflammation and interstitial fibrotic lesions (Travis et al, 2013). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by the reflux of gastric acid and other stomach contents into the esophagus, and one of its typical clinical symptoms is cough GERD has been recognized as a common cause for chronic cough (Lai et al, 2013). Extraesophageal reflux (EER) or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is the reflux of stomach contents into the throat and larynx, and patients with LPR usually do not present the classic symptoms of GERD (Hom and Vaezi, 2013). Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) often have irritating persistent dry cough. Possible correlations between dry cough and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) remain unclear
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